Best picture battle: Moonlight
2016 was a pretty stellar year for film. Deadpool was a breath of fresh air into a genre growing stale, informing the execution of superhero movies and the style of comedy that would define the remainder of the decade. The suspenseful editing of Rogue One would revitalize interest in the tired sequel trilogy, and Moana would cement itself as one of the last successful Disney princess films.
The Oscar’s Best Picture nominees consisted of great films. Arrival was a continuation of Denis Villeneuve’s descent into modern day science fiction innovation and Manchester by the Sea was a quiet tragedy lifted by Casey Affleck’s central performance- but there were two clear front-runners.
The suspense would continue all the way up until the night of the ceremony, when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway would walk on the stage and announce the verdict: “La La Land!” Cheers erupted in Dolby Theatre as director Damien Chazelle and his crew walked onto the stage. The critically and commercially acclaimed favorite had just been announced as winner, and Chazelle proudly accepted his award and recited his speech through the clamouring of his crew behind him on stage. The envelope was being passed around, and as security walked on stage, producer Jordan Horowitz would push Chazelle aside to step in front of the microphone;
“There’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won best picture.”
A hush and a few confused claps fell over the room casts and crews shuffled on and off stage, and by the time Barry Jenkins graced the stage the television coverage was already cutting to commercial break.
Although probably the single most embarrassing moment in the Academy’s history, it also felt like a testament to the adjacency of the two films. Both groups that walked onto the stage that evening had produced year, if not generation-defining movies, but only one of them would walk away with a golden trophy.
So which film ultimately deserved the award? Was La La Land duped out of getting it’s rightful recognition, or did Moonlight deserve its title in the end?
La La Land –
La La Land is a romantic and comedic musical film written and directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling as Sebastian (Best known for Notebook, Barbie, Blade Runner 2049, and The Fall Guy) and Emma Stone as Mia (Best known for The Amazing Spider-Man, Cruella, Zombieland, and Bugonia) with other characters played by Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Terry Walters and Amiee Conn. La La Land won Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Best Directing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song. The plot of La La Land follows Mia Dawson, an up-and-coming actress working as a barista on the Warner Bros. studio lot, and Sebastian Wilder, a passionate jazz pianist struggling to make ends meet in the big city of Los Angeles. They meet by pure chance and initially clash, but eventually fall in love while pursuing their own creative dreams. What makes La La Land so beautiful is multiple layers working together that include visual artistry, musical integration, emotional honesty, and the performances of the two main actors.
The visual artistry is stunning with vibrant colors, sweeping camera movements, and meticulously composed frames that evoke the feel of the classic Hollywood musicals. The opening “Another Day of Sun” freeway sequence is shot in one continuous take, immediately establishing the film’s genuine ambition and energy. The musical integration is a jazz-infused score by Justin Hurwitz doesn’t only accompany the story, it IS the story. The music expresses what the characters very often cannot say in words. Songs like “City of Stars” become emotional anchors that evolve as the movie progresses.
What truly sets La La Land apart is the rich emotional honesty with the bittersweet realism wrapped in a dreamlike package. Unlike traditional musicals with happy ending, La La Land acknowledges that sometimes love and dreams don’t align, and that’s okay. The final fantasy sequence is heartbreaking precisely because it shows what could have been. Lastly, its performances from the lead cast that have genuine chemistry, and their vulnerability, especially in the audition scene where Mia sings “The Fools Who Dream,” make the romance feel earned and real despite the fantastical musical numbers. It is so beautiful because it makes you feel the full spectrum: joy, hope, heartbreak, and acceptance. All while looking and sounding absolutely gorgeous.
